About two weeks ago the Mpumalanga police bosses promised to fire the police officers who were on duty when R3,7million's worth of confiscated mandrax disappeared under their noses.

About two weeks ago the Mpumalanga police bosses promised to fire the police officers who were on duty when R3,7million's worth of confiscated mandrax disappeared under their noses.

We were impressed. The idea of state officials finally getting their comeuppance for acting negligently or willfully abdicating their responsibilities excited us no end.

But alas, we have been sold a dummy again.

The tough talk by the provincial police commanders has remained just that. Instead of being fired, the cops who were complicit in the stealing of the drugs will now have to present themselves at various police stations.

Instead of firing them, the police bosses have thought it wise that they become some other police stations' embarrassment.

Our problems with the approach adopted by the police chiefs are numerous. Firstly, they know that they are harbouring men and women who have openly thrown their weight behind criminals.

We all know the effects of drugs in our society.

Those who stole the drugs and presumably sold them back to the dealers have not only committed crimes against their employers, but are accessories to all the crimes that will be committed by those high on their fix.

This destroys whatever little confidence the police enjoy. If they cannot police their own, who will guard the guardians?

With the operational chiefs having failed us, we now hope that the Minister of Police will save the day.